Day 81
Release the Old, Take Hold of the New
We must all, after Christ's
example, overcome the world, or it will overcome us to our ruin.
Matthew Henry
~~~
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hen God calls us to change, He makes no allowance for a
partial transformation. Inward cleansing will result in outward renewal; when
the new wine of Holy Spirit-fueled life is poured into the heart of a repentant
sinner, a new wineskin is required.[i]
We are reluctant to risk change in
ways that might draw attention, but this concern must be released or we will
quench the Holy Spirit’s flow in an attempt to keep control of how we are
perceived by other human beings. The wonderful freedom we have in Christ
releases us from the burden of keeping up appearances.
Fear is an effective deterrent to
change. The Israelites’ crossing from the desert into the Promised Land
required faith, because reports had told them there were giants in the land and
they were afraid.[ii]
They moved forward anyway, and according to Matthew Henry, three things
happened on their journey between the last stop they made in the desert (Acacia
Grove[iii])
and the first camp made in the Promised Land (Gilgal): 1) Their old leader
died, and a new leader was appointed, 2) They crossed through the parted waters
of the Jordan, and 3) They renewed their practice of circumcision.
Joshua was the Israelites’ new
leader, and can symbolize for us the decision to give up following the demands
of sinful flesh in order to follow Christ. The parted waters of the Jordan
remind us that even insurmountable obstacles are removed once we determine to
follow God’s way and not our own, and the renewal of the practice of
circumcision represents obedience. And so the journey from Acacia Grove to
Gilgal can remind us that although crossing over into a new way of life is at
times uncomfortable and frightening, that God will provide for our needs along
the way as we place our trust in Him.
For the Israelites, the journey
came down to faith; were they going to believe the exaggerated reports brought
to them by those sent ahead to spy out the land, or would they believe
God? We can be sure that the enemy will
bring us exaggerated reports of what might happen if we give ourselves without
reservation to the God who died to save us (what foolish thing might we do?).
In his concise commentary on 1 John
5:1-5, Matthew Henry says, “Faith is the cause of victory, the means, the
instrument, the spiritual armour by which we overcome. In and by faith we
cleave to Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world. Faith
sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those sensual lusts by which the
world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has the indwelling Spirit of
grace, which is greater than he who dwells in the world. The real Christian
overcomes the world by faith…”
Disobedience, then, is a result of
lack of faith. As we stand at the border to a new way of living, may we have
courage to cross over into the fullness of the promises God has given us. May
we stop our ears to the naysaying of the enemy, who tells us it is no use to
keep trying and no matter what we try, we will fail. May God increase our faith
as we learn to step forward in Him.
Pray: Dear Lord, please free me from the rules I’ve
lived with my entire life, the ones that tell me I will be rejected if I’m fat,
that some foods are good while others are bad, and that I’m bad if I fail to
keep on eating in a “good” way. Forgive me for forming an unholy alliance with
food out of rebellion toward these rules, and for the resentment and anger I’ve
harbored because I have been judged by others and by myself. Free me from the
sin that is mine by sinful choice and by inheritance. Rules were my old leader,
but now I look to Jesus as my new leader, and I pray for faith and endurance to
follow Him without fear and because of love. Please thwart the enemy’s
strategies against me and deliver me from bondage into freedom from the demands
of sinful flesh, in Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
~~~
Don’t you remember, my people,
how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed
and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead?
And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
when I, the Lord, did everything I could
to teach you about my faithfulness.
how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed
and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead?
And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
when I, the Lord, did everything I could
to teach you about my faithfulness.
Micah 6:5 NLT
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